Self-operating floating dock for varying level waters



Aug. 28, 1962 J. E. BURTON 3,050,947

SELF-OPERATING FLOATING DOCK FOR VARYING LEVEL WATERS Filed Sept. 9,1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l c/OHN E. sue Ta/v,

ATrOQ/VEYS.

1962 J. E. BURTON 3,050,947

SELF-OPERATING FLOATING DOCK FOR VARYING LEVEL WATERS Filed Sept. 9,1960 FIG. 3.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Office 3,059,947 Patented Aug. 28, 1982 3,055,947SELF-UIERATHNG FLUATING DOCK FUR VARZING LEVEL WATERS John E. Burton,22f) Webster Sh, RU. Box 571, South Boston, Va. Filed Sept. 9, 196b,Ser. No. 55,976 8 Claims. (Cl. 61-48) This invention relates to a novelshore anchored selfoperating floating dock for use in varying levelwaters.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a simple,practical, efiicient, and relatively low cost floating dock of the kindindicated involving a stationary shore-supported stairway, a walkwayarticulated to the stairway, and a dock platform which is articulated tothe walkway, and which is freely anchored to the bottom of the body ofwater in which the dock is installed, so that wide variations in thewater level can be accommodated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clock of the characterindicated above whose components are composed of parts which can beeasily and economically stored and shipped unassembled to the site ofinstallation, and easily and quickly assembled, without special tools orskill, at the site, in a do-it-yourself operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a floating dock ofthe character indicated above, whose components can be made of a widevariety of readily available materials, such as steel, aluminum, andmarine plywood, or combinations thereof, and can be made in a range ofdifferent sizes and shapes.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a contracted top plan view of a floating dock of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a contracted side elevation of the dock, showing the sameafloat in a body of water and its stairway supported on a bank;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view partly broken awayshowing the connecting means between the stairway and the walkway;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, on the scale ofFIGURE 3, taken on-the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section takenon the line 6--6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinalsection taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3-8 ofFIGURE 7.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the illustrated floating dockcomprises a shore and bank-supported relatively stationary stairway ill,a walkway 12 movably connected to the stairway, a dock platform 14movably connected to the walkway, and seshore anchoring means in for theplatform.

The stairway Id declines from the top 13 of a shore or bank S to thebottom B of a body of water W, such as a lake and river which ischaracterized by relatively wide variations in its water level. Thestairway can comprise, as shown in FIGURES 2 to 4, spaced side railsbraced and connected by steps 22 secured thereto. The lower ends of theside rails 2d are fixed, in suitable manner, as

indicated at 24, to the top of a weighted pyramidical anchor 26, whichis buried in the bottom B, at an appropriate distance out from the shoreS. The upper ends of the side rails are fixed, in suitable manner, asindicated at 2 8, to suitable stationary support means, such as posts30, driven in and anchored in the short top 18 by buried weightedanchors 32.

Means is provided connecting the walkway 12 at its inner end to thestairway lift to move vertically along the stairway as the level of thewater changes, the means embodying a pivoted arm 48 which projects fromthe inner end of the walkway and which has a free end connected to thestairway 10 for movement therealong. Specifically, a track 34 extendslongitudinally and preferably centrally of the stairway 22 and isfixedly supported upon some of the steps 22 by means of V-shapedbrackets 36, as shown in FIGURE 4. The rack 34 is a hollow rectangularform having a bottom wall 38, to which the brackets 36 are fastened,sidewalls 46 and a top wall 42 which is formed with a centrallongitudinal slot 46.

The arm 48 extends down through the slot 46 into the track 34 andcarries rollers 50, at its opposite sides, in an axle 52 extendingthrough the inner end of the arm. The rollers 5d work freely but closelyrelative to the bottom wall 33, the sidewalls 4t), and the top wall 42,and provide longitudinally movable and hinged connection between thestairway Ill and the walkway 12. On its outer end, the arm 48 has auniversal joint 54 which is connected to the walkway 12.

The walkway 12 comprises an open, elongated rectangular horizontal frame56, having channel side members 53, an outer end cross member 68, and aniner end cross member 62. The inner cross member 62, as shown in FIGURE4, is canted downwardly and outwardly, preferably at substantially thesame angle as the stairway 10. A reinforcing plate 66 is suitablysecured, as indicated at 68, to the exposed side of the cross member 62,and has fixed thereon, at its upper end, a declining brack 70 throughwhich extends a pin 72, which is part of the universal joint 54. AU-shaped bracket 74 is secured to and extends across the cross member62, at the lower end thereof, and has declining ears 76 between and onwhich are journalled the ends of the axle 78 of a compressible bumperroller 83. The bumper roller 80 is provided for harmless and shocklessengagement with the stairway track '34, as the walkway is swung upwardlyand downwardly relative to the stairway it), by changes in the level ofthe water W, and by waves.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the walkway 12 is preferably slightly narrowerthan the stairway 10, and a floor panel 82, not substantially wider orlonger than the frame 56, is removably secured thereon, as by means ofbolts 84, extended through the floor panel 82, and the upper flanges 86of the frame side members 58.

Suitably secured to the underside of the walkway frame 56 and to acentral cross member 88 of the frame, is a transversely elongated floator pontoon 90, which is substantially longer than the width of the.walkway. The pontoon Ml is preferably elongated rectangular in plan andof rectangular cross section, and is positioned relative to the centerof gravity of the walkway, so that the walkway is normally floated in alevel position so as to impose no unnecessary strain, either on thestairway 10 or the dock platform I4 to which the walkway is connected.The universal joint 5% enables the walkway to tilt relative to thestairway Iii, on axes extending both longitudinally and transversely ofthe stairway, as produced by movements of the water W and changes in thelevel thereof.

The clock platform 14 is substantially wider than the walkway l2, andcomprises an elongated rectangular open frame 92, preferably of boltedconstruction for easy knock-down and transportation, having longitudinalchannel side members 94, outer and inner channel end members 96 and 98,respectively, and equally spaced intermediate channel cross members 100.A platform floor panel 192 is removably secured upon the frame 92, as bymeans of bolts 104, extended through the panel 162, and upper flanges106 of frame members, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. As shown in FIGURE 2,the dock platform frame 92 is shallower than the frame 56 of the walkway12.

Spaced L-shaped brackets 107 are fixed to and extend inwardly from theinner end member 98 of the frame 92, at the middle thereof, and ahorizontal transverse rock shaft 108 extends between the brackets and isjournalled, at its ends, therethrough, as indicated at 110, in FIGURE 8,and has retaining means, such as pins 112 on its ends outside of thebrackets. Discs 114 are suitably secured, as indicated at 116, to theouter sides of the side members 58 of the walkway frame 56 and projectlongitudinally outwardly beyond its outer end member 60, as shown inFIGURES 7 and 8, and have arcuate bearing edges 118 to bear slidablyagainst the inner end member 98 of the dock platform frame, with theshaft 108 extending through the walkway frame side members 58 andthrough the discs 114. This arrangement allows the dock platform 14 andthe walkway 12 to tilt relative to each other, while in mutuallysupporting contact, while preventing sidewise or yawing movements of theplatform and the walkway, relative to each other.

The dock platform 14 further comprises a plurality of transverselyelongated, longitudinally spaced similar floats or pontoons, such as anouter end pontoon 120, an intermediate pontoon 122, and an inner endpontoon 124. The pontoons extend the full width of the platform frame,and are preferably elongated rectangular in plan and rectangular incross section, and can be the same in construction and size as thepontoon of the walkway 12.

Asshown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the pontoons 120, 122, and 124 are similarlyrigidly connected to and spaced below the dock platform frame 92, bymeans of angle iron uprights 126 which are suitably fixed, at theirlower ends, to the top walls 128 of the pontoons, at the corner thereof,as indicated at 130. At opposite sides of the pontoons the uprights 126have fixed horizontal bars 130 extending therebetween, and bolts 132extend through the ends of the bars 130, and the lower flanges 134 ofthe frame side members 9 or of the frame end members 96, 98, so as toconnect the pontoons removably to the frame 92.

Fixed centrally to and extending outwardly'from the outer end member 96of the platform frame 92, is a chain guide 136 comprising a pair ofbrackets 138 between which extends a tubular shaft 140 on which isjournalled a chain guide roller 142. An anchor chain 144 has anintermediate portion thereof trained over the guide roller 142, and aninner end portion 146 which extends straight down from the guide and isconnected, at its lower end, to a free weight 148 which is suspendedabove the water bottom B. The chain 144 has an outer end portion 150which extends at an outward and downward angle from the outer end of'theplatform 14, and is connected, at its lower end, to a bottom engaginganchor 152. This arrangement provides automatically for endwise shiftingof the dock platform 14 and'the walkway 12 away from the stairway, asthe level of the water W subsides, and endwise shifting of the platformand the walkway toward the stairway, as the level of the water rises,with the platform and the walkway in substantially horizontal positions,with their floors 82 and 102 substantially in the same horizontal plane,except as water movements produce anglings of the platform and thewalkway relative to each other. Further, the anchored anchor chain 144serves to hold the dock platform 14 in line with the walkway 12 and thestairway 10.

While hollow metal pontoons are shown in the drawings, it is intendedthat this showing is illustrated only, and that any other suitable formsof and arrangements of pontoons are contemplated, such as solidstyrofoam floats.

Although there have been shown and described herein preferred forms ofthe invention, it is to be understood that the invention is notnecessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in thestructure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof arecontemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined bythe claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a body of water having a bottom and a shore having atop spaced above the level of the water, a self-operating floating dockcomprising a declining stairway having an upper end fixed on the shoretop and a lower end fixed to the water bottom, a horizontal floatingwalkway having an outer end and an inner end, first means including apivoted arm projecting from the inner end of said walkway and having thefree end connected to said stairway for movement therealong conmeetingthe walkway at its inner end to the stairway to move vertically alongthe stairway as the level of the water changes, a floating dock platformpositioned at the outer end of the walkway, said platform having anouter end and an inner end, second means horizontally hinging theplatform at its inner end to the outer end of the Walkway, and cable andanchor means on the outer end of the platform.

2. In combination, a body of water having a bottom and a shore havingatop spaced above the level of the water, a self-operating floating dockcomprising a declining stair-way having an upper end fixed on the shoretop and a lower end fixed to the water bottom, a horizontal floatingwalkway having an outer end and an inner end, first means connecting thewalkway at its inner end to the stairway to move vertically along thestairway as the level of the water changes, a floating dock platformpositioned at the outer end of the walkway, said plat form having anouter end and an inner end, second means horizontally hinging theplatform at its' inner end to the outer end of the walkway, and anchormeans connected to the platform, said first means comprising a trackfixed to and extending lengthwise of the stairway, an arm pivoted at oneend to the walkway and having roller means on its other end, said rollermeans being securably and rollably engaged with the track.

3. In combination, a body of water having a bottom and a shore having atop spaced above the level of the water, a self-operating floating dockcomprising a declining stairway having an upper end fixed on the shoretop and a lower end fixed to the water bottom, a horizontal floatingwalkway having an outer end and an inner end, first means connecting thewalkway at its inner end to the stairway to move vertically along thestairway as the level of the water changes, a floating dock platformpositioned at the outer end of the walkway, said platform having anouter end and an inner end, second means horizontally hinging theplatform at its inner end to the outer end of the walkway, and anchormeans connected to the platform, said first means comprising a trackfixed to and extendinglengthwise of the stairway, an arm pivoted at oneend to the walkway and having roller means on its other end, said rollermeans being securably and rollably engaged with the track, said stairwayhaving spaced side rails, steps extending between and fixed to the siderails, said track being mounted on the steps.

4. In combination, a body of water having a bottom and a shore having atop spaced-above the level of the water, a self-operating floating dockcomprising a declining stairway having an upper end fixed on the shoretop and a lower end fixed to the water bottom, a horizontal floatingwalkway having an outer end and an inner end, first means connecting thewalkway at its inner end to stairway to move vertically along thestairway as the level of the water changes, a floating dock platformpositioned at the outer end of the walkway, said platform having anouter end and an inner end, second means horizontally hinging theplatform at its inner end to the outer end of the walkway, and anchormeans connected to the platform, said first means comprising a hollowtrack having a top wall formed with a longitudinal slot, an arm pivotedat one end to the walkway and extending into the track through saidslot, and roller means on the other end of the arm confined within thetrack.

5. In combination, a body of water having a bottom and a shore having atop spaced above the level of the water, a self-operating floating dockcomprising a declining stairway having an upper end fixed on the shoretop and a lower end fixed to the water bottom, a horizontal floatingwalkway having an outer end and an inner end, first means connecting thewalkway at its inner end to the stairway to move vertically along thestairway as the level of the water changes, a floating dock platformpositioned at the outer end of the walkway, said platform having anouter end and an inner end, second means horizontally hinging theplatform at its inner end to the outer end of the walkway, and anchormeans connected to the platform, said first means comprising a hollowtrack having a top wall formed with a longitudinal slot, an arm pivotedat one end to the walkway and extending into the track through saidslot, and roller means on the other end of the arm confined within thetrack, and a universal joint pivoting said one end of the arm to therear end of the walkway.

6. In combination, a body of water having a bottom and a shore having atop spaced above the level of the water, a self-operating floating dockcomprising a declining stairway having an upper end fixed on the shoretop and a lower end fixed to the water bottom, a horizontal floatingwalkway having an outer end and an inner end, first means connecting thewalkway at its inner end to the stairway to move vertically along thestairway as the level of the water changes, a floating dock platformpositioned at the outer end of the walkway, said platform having anouter end and an inner end, second means horizontally hinging theplatform at its inner end to the outer end of the walkway, and anchormeans connected to the platform, said first means comprising a trackfixed to and extending lengthwise of the stairway, an arm pivoted at oneend to the walkway and having roller means on its other end, said rollermeans being securably and rollably engaged with the track, and acompressible bumper roller on the inner end of the walkway, said bumperroller being spaced below said arm for harmless engagement, at times,with the stairway.

7. In combination, a body of water having a bottom and a shore having atop spaced above the level of the water, a self-operating floating dockcomprising a declining stairway having an upper end fixed on the shoretop and a lower end fixed to the Water bottom, a horizontal floatingwalkway having an outer end and an inner end, first means connecting theWalkway at its inner end to the stairway to move vertically along thestairway as the level of the water changes, a floating dock platformpositioned at the outer end of the walkway, said platform having anouter end and an inner end, second means horizontally hinging theplatform at its inner end to the outer end of the walkway, and anchormeans connected to the platform, said anchor means comprising a chainguide fixed on the outer end of the dock platform, a chain having anintermediate portion trained over said guide, said chain having an outerend portion extending downwardly in the water, a bottom-engaging anchorto which said outer end portion is secured, said chain having an innerend portion extending downwardly in the water, and a free weight securedto said inner end portion and spaced upwardly from the water bottom.

8. In combination, a body of water having a bottom and a shore having atop spaced above the level of the water, a self-operating floating dockcomprising a declining stairway having an upper end fixed on the shoretop and lower end fixed to the water bottom, a horizontal floatingwalkway having an outer end and an inner end,

first means connecting the walkway at its inner end to the stairway tomove vertically along the stairway as the level of the water changes, afloating dock platform positioned at the outer end of the walkway, saidplatform having an outer end and an inner end, second means horizontallyhinging the platform at its inner end to the outer end of the walkway,and anchor means connected to the platform, said anchor means comprisinga chain guide fixed on the outer end of the dock platform, a chainhaving an intermediate portion trained over said guide, said chainhaving an outer end portion extending downwardly in the water, abottom-engaging anchor to which said outer end portion is secured, saidchain having an inner end portion extending downwardly in the water, anda free weight secured to said inner end portion and spaced upwardly fromthe water bottom, said chain guide comprising a horizontal roller overwhich the intermediate portion of the chain is trained.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,996,955 Elliott Apr. 9, 1935 2,625,314 Moyer Ian. 13, 1953 2,759,331Fiebinger Aug. 21, 1956

